Two-direction ammunition transfer mechanism

ABSTRACT

IN A LINKLESS, FLEXIBLE ARMAMENT SYSTEM HAVING A CONVEYOR FOR TRANSPORTING LIVE ROUNDS FROM AN AMMUNITION MAGAZINE TO A GUN AND SPENT CARTRIDGE CASES AND DUD ROUNDS FROM THE GUN TO A STORAGE CONTAINER, A MECHANISM IS PROVIDED FOR PERMITTING READY SEPARATION OF THE CONVEYOR LOOP INTO TWO HALVES WITHOUT PHYSICALLY DICONNECTING OR BREAKING THE CONVEYOR CHAIN.

TWO-DIRECTION AMMUNITION TRANSFER MECHANISM Filed Sept. 30, 1969 Nov. 9, 1971 J. R. CHRISTENSON Z5 Sheets-Sheet 1 NOV- 9, 1971 c 5 s 0 3,618,454

TWO-DIRECTION AMMUNITION TRANSFER MECHANISM Filed Sept. 30, 1969 I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.3

Nov; 9, 1971 Filed Sept. 30, 1969 J. R. CHRISTENSON 3,618,454

TWO-DIRECTION AMMUNITION TRANSFER MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 5

nit-ed States Patent D fic 3,618,454 Patented Nov. 9, 1971 3,618,454 TWO-DIRECTION AMMUNITION TRANSFER MECHANISM James R. Christensen, Creve Coeur, Mo., assignor to Emerson Electric Co., St. Louis, Mo. Filed Sept. 30, 1969, Ser. No. 862,377 Int. Cl. F4111 9/00 U.S. C]. 89-33 BB 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE In a linkless, flexible armament system having a conveyor for transporting live rounds from an ammunition magazine to a gun and spent cartridge cases and dud rounds from the gun to a storage container, a mechanism is provided for permitting ready separation of the conveyor loop into two halves without physically disconnecting or breaking the conveyor chain.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to armament systems, and more particularly to armament systems of the type utilizing a flexible conveyor for transporting ammunition and spent brass between an ammunition magazine and a gun.

Flexible turret armament systems are currently utilized on both fixed and rotary wing aircraft for attack, detense and support missions. It is often desirable to locate the ammunition storage magazine in such aircraft a considerable distance from the gun which it feeds. In such installations, linkless ammunition feed systems provide several distinct advantages over the more conventional linked feed systems (e.g. weight savings due to absence of links). Linkless systems of this type generally comprise a rapid fire machine gun mounted on the aircraft to cover a desired field of fire and an ammunition storage magazine carried within the aircraft at an optimized location, depending upon such considerations as access, vulnerability to fire, weight and center of gravity. The gun and ammunition magazine are interconnected by an endless flexible conveyor for feeding live ammunition rounds from the magazine to the gun and returning spent cartridge cases, malfunctioned complete or dud rounds and cleared cartridges from the gun to either a debris container or the magazine. For systems using caseless ammunition, return would be provided only for cleared rounds, i.e., rounds which bypass the gun as the system is stopped.

In armament systems of the type described, as well as in fixed armament systems, it is frequently necessary to remove or replace the gun for either repair or maintenance purposes or to change weapon caliber, 'etc. This has, in the past, necessitated the complete removal or disassembly of the conveyor feed system, a difficult and time consuming task rendering the aircraft useless for three or four hours.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, among the several objects of the present invention may be noted the provision of a two-way ammunition transfer mechanism for use in flexible or fixed armament systems of the linkless feed type as above described; the provision of such a mechanism which permits rapid disconnect and connect of the ammunition feed and return conveyor of such systems to enable rapid replacement of the gun and or turret thereof; the provision of a mechanism of the class described which automatically times and powers the conveyor system when connected; and the provision of such a mechanism which is characterized by simplicity of construction, low weight and cost, and ease of operation and use.

In general, a two direction transfer mechanism for first and second conveyor loops of a conveyor system constructed in accordance with the present invention comprises a housing providing a pair of paths for travel of first articles from the first conveyor loop to the second conveyor loop and second articles from the second conveyor loop to the first conveyor loop. Means are provided in the housing for stripping the first articles from the first conveyor loop and the second articles from the second conveyor loop, and for inserting the first articles in the second conveyor loop and the second articles in the first conveyor loop. In addition, means are provided for separating the housing between the conveyor loops without disassembly thereof. Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective View of a portion of the present two-direction transfer mechanism.

FIG. 2 is an elevation of the mechanism of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section taken on line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an elevation of the left side of the mechanism;

FIG. 5 is an elevation of the right side of the mechanism; and

FIG. 6 is an elevation of the top of the mechanism.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1, the present two-direction ammunition transfer mechanism, indicated generally at 1, is comprised of a housing 3 receiving the ends of ammunition magazine and gun conveyors 5 and 7, respectively, of a flexible feed conveyor for an armament system of the linkless type. Thus, the conveyor loop 5 is interposed between the mechanism 1 and a suitable conventional ammunition storage magazine (not shown) while the conveyor loop 7 is interposed between the mechanism 1 and a conventional rapid fire machine gun (also not shown). As illustrated, the housing 3 of transfer mechanism 1 is split on a split line 9 for separation of the mechanism, as will be described more fully hereinafter. In general, the mechanism may be readily separated and joined along line 9 to affect separation of the conveyor loops 5 and 7 to replace, for example, a malfunctioning machine gun.

More specifically, as best illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3 and 6, the housing 3 of the mechanism is provided with internal cam paths 11 and 13 for respectively feeding live rounds 15 from the magazine to the gun and spent rounds and duds 17 from the gun to either a container or a device for restoring the rounds in the magazine. A five-cavity sprocket 19 fixed to a shaft 21 is disposed between pathways 11 and 13 at the magazine end of the mechanism, the conveyor loop 5 being trained around sprocket 19 and around a similar sprocket at the magazine. Similarly, a five-cavity sprocket 23 fixed to a shaft 25 is disposed between pathways 11 and 13 at the gun end of the mechanism, the conveyor loop '7 being trained around sprocket 23 and a similar sprocket at the gun.

Intermediate sprockets 19 and 23 outwardly of pathways 11 and 13 are a pair of three-cavity transfer sprockets 27 and 29 fixed, respectively to shafts 31 and 33. As best illustrated in FIG. 2, the end sprockets 19 and 23 partially overlie the inner margins of paths 11 and 13 while center sprockets 27 and 29 partially overlie the outer margins of the paths. The shafts of each of the sprockets 0 19, 23, 27 and 29 are driven for rotation in the direction The conveyor loops and 7 are each comprised of linked chains consisting of alternate links 43 and connectors 45, the links being shaped to resiliently engage and receive one round of ammunition. Thus, each link 43 is of U-shape cross-section, as are the cavities, indicated at 47, 49, 51 and 53, in the sprockets 19, 23, 27 and 29, respectively. As can be seen, as the conveyors 5 and 7 are fed around sprockets 19 and 23, links 43, which receive the rounds 15 and 17 near their longitudinal centers, are received in cavities 47 and 49. The rounds 15 and 17 are guided through the mechanism 1 by the cam paths 11 and 13. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 6, the cam paths in the left and right sides of the mechanism are respectively configured to conform generally to the configuration of the head and base of the cartridges being handled. The cam paths are located along the left and right sides of the mechanism to allow the sprockets located therebetween to advance the cartridges.

The mechanism for driving or rotating sprockets 19, 23, 27 and 29 in the directions indicated by arrows 35, 37, 39 and 41 is illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 as comprising a pinion drive gear 55 meshing with an idler gear 57 journaled for rotation on shaft 33 on the left side of the mechanism. Thus, rotation of gear 57 by drive gear 55 does not directly rotate shaft 33 and sprocket 29. How- 3 ever, gear 57 meshes with a gear 61 fixed to shaft 25 which in turn rotates sprocket 23 and a gear 63 on the right side of the mechanism. Gear 63, in turn, meshes with a gear 65 fixed to shaft 31 and sprocket 27, which meshes with a gear 67 fixed to shaft 21 and sprocket 19, which further meshes with a gear 69 fixed to shaft 33 and sprocket 29. Thus, the sprockets 19, 23, 27 and 29 are driven in the directions indicated and at predetermined rates by the drive train consisting of gears 55, 57 and 61 on the left side of the mechanism and gears 63, 65, 67 and 69 on the right. The drive gear 55 may be driven by any conventional arrangement, such as, for example, a flexible power shaft from a drive motor.

Also located on the right side of the mechanism 1 are five-cog and three-cog involute timing gears 71 and 73 fixed, respectively, to shafts 25 and 31 outwardly of gears 63 and 65 (see FIG. 5). The involute gears 71 and 73 are configured to automatically time the sprockets 19, 23, 27 and 29 when the gears are brought together. Thus, as the involute gears 71 and 73 mesh, the sprockets are moved into the proper orientation with respect to one another to advance cartridges 15 and 17 through the mechanism.

As set forth above, the mechanism 1 is designed to permit rapid separation of the ammunition conveyor feeding live cartridges and spent brass between a rapid fire machine gun and an ammunition storage magazine in a flexible or fixed armament system. Thus, the mechanism 1 permits separation of conveyor loops 5 and 7 by parting along split line 9. For this purpose, the lower portion of the mechanism (as viewed in FIGS. 25) is provided with a latch pin 75 at its left upper margin and a C-shaped pin retainer 77 at its right upper margin. A latch arm 79 is pivoted at 81 on the upper portion of the mechanism for engagement with pin 75 while a pin 83, fixed also to the upper portion, engages retainer 77. Thus, the upper and lower portions may be separated along line 9 by pivoting arm 79 out of engagement with pin 75 and thereafter moving retainer 77 out of engagement with pin 83, the upper portion carrying shaft 25, together with gears 61, 63 and 71, sprocket 23 and conveyor 7 therewith. The remaining gears 57, 65, 67, 69 and 73 and sprockets 19, 27 and 29 remain with the lower portion of the mechanism.

Operation is as follows:

With the conveyor loops 5 and 7 trained around sprockets 19 and 23, the upper and lower portions of the mechanism are assembled together by sliding pin 83 in retainer 77 and latching arm 79 on latch pin 75,. In so doing, it is only necessary to mesh involute gears 71 and 73 to insure proper drive and sprocket timing. That is,

with any of the cogs of either timing gear 71 or 73 located in the recess between adjacent cogs in the other timing gear, the sprockets 19, 23, 27 and 29 are coordinated for two-way feed of cartridges 15 and 17. In addition, with the mechanism latched together, the drive train to the sprockets is completed from the input drive gear to idler gear 57, and thence through sprocket drive gears 61, 63, 65, 67 and 69. Gear 57 is arranged to idle on shaft 33 so that upon separation of the two halves of the mechanism, the power shaft can continue to rotate without driving the conveyor loop 5. Thus, it is not necessary to remove the power shaft to gear 57 when changing to a weapon utilizing a different conveyor system.

Live ammunition 15 and spent cartridge cases and dud rounds 17 are transferred through the mechanism .1 between conveyor loops 5 and 7 in the following manner. With conveyor loops 5 and 7 trained around sprockets 19 and 23 and the sprockets rotated in the directions indicated by arrows 35 and 37, the cartridges 15 in links 43 are guided into cam path 11 and rotated partially around sprocket 19 with links 43. Each cartridge 15 continues to rotate in link 43 which is carried in one of the notches 47 of sprocket 19 until the inner margin of cam track 11 cams the cartridge outwardly, this occurring when the cartridge is adjacent the sprocket 27. Continued rotation of sprockets 19 and 27 forces the cartridge along the cam path which cams the cartridge out of link 43 and intoone of the notches 51 in sprocket 27, the latter carrying the cartridge along the cam path until the cartridge is adjacent sprocket 23. At this point, the cartridge is cammed out of notch 51 in sprocket 27 by the outer margin of cam track 11 and is picked up and forced into link 43 on conveyor loop 7, in which it travels to the weapon. Empty cartridge cases and dud rounds returning in the other leg of conveyor 7 are transferred through mechanism 1 to the other leg of conveyor 5 for return to a spent brass container.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results obtained.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. A two-direction transfer mechanism for first and second conveyor loops of an ammunition conveyor system, said mechanism comprising a housing, path-defining means in said housing for defining a pair of paths for travel of live ammunition cartridges from said first conveyor loop to said second conveyor loop and spent cartridge cases and dud complete cartridges from said second conveyor loop to said first conveyor loop, said path-defining means being configured to retain said ammunition therein throughout its travel through the mechanism, stripping and inserting means in said housing for strip ping said live cartridges from said first conveyor loop and said spent cartridge cases and dud cartridges from said second conveyor loop and for inserting said live cartridges in said second conveyor loop and said spent cartridge cases and dud cartridges in said first conveyor loop, said stripping and inserting means comprising first and second sprockets around which said first and second conveyor loops are respectively trained, said sprockets being located relative to said paths such that said ammunition is cammed out of the respective conveyor loops and into the other of said conveyor loops as said conveyor loops traverse said sprockets and said ammunition traverses said paths, and means for separating said housing between said conveyor loops for separating and joining said conveyor loops without disassembly thereof.

2. The transfer mechanism set forth in claim 1 further comprising a pair of transfer sprockets intermediate said first and second sprockets and adjacent said paths, said transfer sprockets carrying said ammunition between said first and second sprockets.

3. The transfer mechanism'set forth in claim 2 further comprising means for rotating said first and second sprockets to drive said conveyor loops.

4. The transfer mechanism set forth in claim 3 further comprising timing means for moving said sprockets into the proper timed relationship with respect to one another as the housing is joined.

5. The transfer mechanism set forth in claim 4 wherein said means for rotating said sprockets comprises gears fixed to shafts carrying said first, second and transfer sprockets, and power input means for driving said gears.

6. The transfer mechanism set forth in claim 5 further comprising a power input idler gear journaled for rotation on one of said shafts for continuing power to said mechanism upon separation thereof without driving said conveyor loops.

7. The transfer mechanism set forth in claim 4 wherein said timing means comprises first and second involute gears fixed respectively to one of said first or second sprocket shafts and to one of said transfer sprocket shafts.

8. The transfer mechanism set forth in claim 1 wherein said live ammunition cartridges are transferred from an ammunition storage magazine to a rapid fire machine gun and said spent cartridge cases and dud complete cartridges are transferred from the gun to a debris storage container.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,993,415 7/1961 Panicci et a1 89-33 Drum BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner S. C. BENTLEY, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. XJR. 

